Abstract

Provocated pain by electric foot shock, macrophage killing ability and the use of BCG as immunomodulator in Balb/C mice
Background: Pain affects immune system through Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) and Symphatetic-adrenal-medullary
(SAM) axis. Immunostimulator BCG increase immune system via type I response. The aim of this study is to prove that the decrease
of immune response due to pain can be improved by introducing BCG vaccine assessed by macrophage activity.
Methods: The study adapts Laboratory Experimental and Post-Test Only Control Group Design. Samples were 24 female Balb/C
mice average weight 21.88(SD=1.75) grams and divided into four groups. The control group (C) received no other additional
treatment. The BCG group (B) received intra-peritoneal injection of 0.1 ml BCG at day 1st and 11th. The EFS (E) received Electric
foot shock 1-3 mA at day 12th to 21st and the BCG+ EFS group (BE) received BCG and EFS as mentioned before. All groups were
intravenously injected with 104 live L. monocytogenes at day 21st and sacrificed at day 26th by chloroform anaesthesia. Then,
Macrophages Nitrit Oxyde (NO) concentration and liver bacterial count were measured. Data were analyzed by One Way ANOVA,
Post Hoc Test Bonferroni and Pearson’s product moment supported by computer software SPSS 13.0 (significant if p<0.05).
Results: There were significant differences in the macrophages NO production and the liver bacterial count (p<0.05) among the
groups. The highest number of bacterial count and the lowest number of NO production was found in the E group. In contrast, there
were significant differences on the number of bacterial count and NO production between BE group and E group (p>0.05).
Conclusions: Pain provocation causes low NO concentration in macrophages and the introduction of BCG could improve the
condition.